He began his career as a run-of-the-mill tearaway, but laconic Alan Connolly improved his fitness, truncated his run and broadened his repertoire to become the very model of a modern medium-pacer, and developed a reputation for utmost reliability and perseverance. He was capable of long, conscientious spells, and was adept at moving the ball regardless of its age. His best Test moments were in England in 1968 and South Africa in 1969-70, where he propped up weak attacks. Two seasons with Middlesex, however, wore the edge from his bowling, and his career was finished by the time he was 31.
Gideon Haigh